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| 50 cows, | 5.5 tonnes silage/winter |
| 25 heifers/steers, | 4.2 tonnes silage/winter |
| 25 younger heifers/steers, | 3.5 tonnes silage/winter |
| 6 bulls | 6.5 tonnes silage/winter |
Field No: 430359, Glen Moar, Corlea Road, Isle of Man IM9 3BA Planning Application for the erection of Agricultural Buildings and Silage Pit
This report has been prepared to provide supporting information for the planning application in respect of agricultural buildings and silage pit in Field: 430359, Glen Moar.
Manx Rare Breeds Limited purchased Glen Moar and Ballaloaghtan in 2013 in order to preserve and save from extinction some of the rarest breeds of domestic farm animals in conjunction with the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.
As the number of rare breed cattle, sheep and pigs has steadily increased, the requirement for housing cattle over the winter has become essential. Additionally, storage of winter forage is required and this is best served with the construction of a silage pit.
Advice concerning the size and type of building was obtained from Chris Kneale, DEFA in April 2014.
He suggested three building types to consider. It was decided the option of two 36.6m (120ft) x 12.2m (40ft) buildings facing into each other would be the most suitable as they provide good protection from the weather and can accommodate different penning systems for all the various breeds.
The gap between the buildings would be 4.9m (16ft) which would serve as a feed passage for both buildings and each building would have 1.83m (6ft) cantilever to protect the feed and provide additional shelter for cattle in the buildings.
The buildings would have to be 4.3 (14ft) to the eaves to enable tractor access along the feed passage.
Based on the following, it has been calculated that 507 tonnes will be required:
To provide for a bit of additional silage storage for years when silage may be drier than average because of the weather, the size of the silage pit has been calculated for 625 tonnes.
Assuming a silage dry matter of 25%, 625 tonnes would require 920m³. With average height of silage at 2.4m and assuming a length of 31.4m, the width of the pit would have to be 12.2m.
The full length of the silage pit, 36.6m has not been used in the calculations as it is planned that during the winter FYM can be stored at the front of the pit and consequently utilise the same silage effluent/dirty water tank.
Minimum UK requirements for silage effluent capacity is 3m³ for each 150m³ (or part thereof) of silage for a silage pit of less than 1500m³.
Based on 36.6m x 2.4m x 12.2m, a tank with at least 21,500 litre capacity will be required.
2
Rain falling on the silage pit, area between the two buildings and yard in front of buildings which is used for scrapping FYM from buildings to storage area is classified as dirty water and has to be collected and disposed of correctly by spreading on land.
Assuming an average annual rainfall of 1242mm (Ref: Cringle Reservoir) and assuming 45% rainfall falls over the wettest winter months, it can be calculated that there will be 140 mm rainfall/month during the wettest months. Minimum storage capacity for dirty water can be calculated allowing for one month storage.
Silage pit – 36.6m x 12.2m Yard in front of buildings and silage pit – 41.5m x 4.6m Feed passage – 36.6m x 1.22m
From silage pit – 62,500 litres From yard – 26,700 litres From feed passage – 6,250 litres
By covering both the silage pit and yard will eliminate the production of large quantities of dirty water produced which then has to be spread on fields. This is both economically and environmentally justifiable.
The feed passage would still produce dirty water but that can easily be stored in the silage effluent tank which will have very little effluent going into it during the winter months when the cattle buildings will be in use.
To enable silage trailers to be safely unloaded in the silage pit and then for silage to be properly and safely stored, the height to the eaves needs to be 6.1m (20ft). After discussions with other farmers and agricultural contractors, 5.5m (18ft) is possible but does not account for the ever increasing size of agricultural machinery or if silage needs to be stored to a greater height if the dry matter is higher in a dry year.
DEFA have recommended one option for the cattle buildings as two 36.6m x 12.2m buildings with a central feed passage.
Calculations show that the silage pit which would be adjacent to the buildings would need to be 12.2m wide with an effluent tank of at least 21,500 litres.
By covering the silage pit and yard in front of the buildings would reduce the amount of rainwater which would need to be spread on the fields by 89,200 litres/month or 356,800 litres for four months over the winter.
The height of the silage pit would need to be 6.1m to the eaves to ensure the safety of farm workers and agricultural contractors whilst filling the silage pit.
Caroline Perry Island Land-Based Services Limited Boayl Dooin 16 Ballastroom Colby Isle of Man IM94NR
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